For the first time in Charleville, a centre for local craft from across the Ballyhoura area and Munster takes pride of place on Charleville Main Street. The Design & Craft Studio is owned by Batik artist, Judy Reardon. Judy is originally from Blackrock, Cork and moved to Ballyhea in 2008. She graduated with a degree in Sculpture from The Crawford College of Art & Design in 1992. She turned her attention to batik art in the past few years and while continuing to develop her style opened The Design & Craft Studio in August 2015.

When asked why she wanted to open a business, she responded by saying, she saw a great opportunity to open a craft shop in Charleville, as it is a thriving town with a great selection of shops. It is an ideal rest stop halfway between Cork and Limerick, where you can grab a sandwich and do a bit of shopping. I wanted to create a platform where I could sell my own work yet at the same time be able to give local crafters an opportunity to sell their work. I also wanted the opportunity to sell beautifully crafted work by established makers from all corners of the country. All my stockists are hugely supportive and with their help and support I have managed to open up a great craft shop, with over forty stockists, selling beautiful handmade craft.

In 2011 Doneraile Development Association (DDA), conscious of the strong tradition of Antique Furniture Retailing and Restoration in the locality approached Ballyhoura Development to seek assistance in developing this important sector in Doneraile. Following discussions it was agreed that Ballyhoura Development would apply to FAS Community Services with a view to setting up a training course on Furniture Making and Restoration which would allow those attending the course to acquire many of the basic traditional skills of furniture restoration which are at risk of being lost altogether.

FAS supported the course by providing funding to Ballyhoura Development to set up and operate the course. The course is a FAS Local Training Initiative (LTI) and allows those who are from the locality, unemployed and between the ages of 17 and 35, 80%, the remaining 20% can be older, and have an interest in furniture making and restoration to take part.

The course runs for just under 12 months and awards a Fetac Level 5 Major award in Furniture and Antique Restoration to successful learners.

The Limerick Craft Hub, having been established as a Legacy Project of Limericks City of Culture, in conjunction with the Limerick Craft Collective, creates a focal identity and destination for craft and design, Handmade in Limerick, through Retail, Gallery, Classroom and Open Studios.

From its city centre location, it promotes and supports over 40 local craft micro businesses by providing a high end retail outlet. It also provides educational and event facilities to the public in its classsroom & gallery, while providing working studios to 5 craft businesses through its 3 studios in ceramics, feltmaking and silversmithing.

Enriching the cultural fabric and city regeneration of Limerick, the Limerick Craft Hub offers Community Craft Engagement by encouraging and facilitating the public to visit and see craft in action in the studios, attend a class, workshop or event, commission their own craft, or participate in our free Community Craft Corner.

Through education and social events, we offer people of all ages and backgrounds craft experiences, incl. Community, Education & Social organisations, some of which give their craft creations to local charities. Our craft designers volunteer in the retail shop to be on hand to talk with customers.

These aspects greatly enhance the general retail offering where the customer can do more than pick up a product and simply pay for it.they engage with the product and its maker, while supporting local Limerick Business.

The increasing evidence of consumer nationalism and craft appreciation is borne out in the very positive reception to the Craft Hub since its opening in August, including its accreditation by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland as an Irish Craft Studio Experience as part of their tourist campaign with Failte Ireland.

The gallery quickly became a welcome addition to the busy Adare community as many established artists seized the opportunity to display their work in our informal, relaxed and picturesque setting. Visitors to the gallery quickly acknowledged the difference in approach and the variety on display.

From the outset, the gallery sold and promoted the work of many well-known Irish artists. These included such names as Jane Hilliard, The Barrett Sisters, Syra Larkin, Sheila Richardson, Vivienne St. Clair, Kelly Hood and more recently Gavin Hogg, Robert Ryan.

It is hoped that this range of top Irish artists will increase as Draocht Gallery goes online and our reputation grows. The aim of this site will be to showcase the best of contemporary Irish art available in the gallery and an opportunity to view work from the artists portfolios never seen heretofore.

In this regard it is hoped that having original paintings, a range of affordable limited edition prints and the eclectic mix of gifts and furnishings will help the gallery go from strength to strength in the coming years.

This is not mass production pottery; each piece is lovingly crafted by hand. Using a combination of wheel-thrown, hand-building and modelling techniques, Richard works alone to produce an ever-changing variety of ideas, shapes and patterns that could only be Irish.

One-off items predominate with just a few semi-standard items. All decoration is individually designed and carried out completely by hand, with no transfers or stencils used. A pencil sketch on the unfired glaze captures the shape of each item, with colours, line drawing and detail added slowly to build into vibrant Celtic patterns owing not a little to the legendary Book of Kells.

Irish Handcrafts is the oldest retail business on Patrick Street, in the centre of Limerick City in Ireland. A family run store founded in 1969.

They specialize in a unique range of Irish Knitwear, Fashions, Tweeds and Linens. Their Aran Fisherman style sweaters, cardigans and coats are all crafted in 100% pure wool and feature traditional patterns passed down from generation to generation in Irish families.

Their range of Handknitted Aran Sweaters and Cardigans are of superb quality, expertly hand made for in Co. Donegal. High end authentic traditional handcrafted garments which are becoming increasingly difficult to source. Heirlooms to be treasured in your wardrobe for years to come! The Blankets & Throws, Caps and Scarves in our collection are all made locally and come in a variety of 100% pure wool yarns, sizes and at prices to suit all pockets. The Irish and International Fashion brands available from our Dress Shop include Donegal Design, John Hanly, Gelco, Lebek, Blue Willi’s and many more. Customers can buy direct from the online shop with the convenience of secure internet shopping and inexpensive mailing charges.

Limerick Craft and Design is a Limerick craft pop-up shop that stocks 100% locally made craft.

Wide range of quality made crafts stocked:

Stained glass

Silver jewellery

Upcycled furniture

Felted items

Ceramics

….and much more!

Eithne Hehir of Ballyhoura Ceramics creates functional and aesthetic porcelain vessels. All the pieces are lovingly hand made in Limerick by using the traditional handcrafted method of throwing on the wheel creating a unique piece of porcelain. The rhythm of the wheel is replicated in each piece as they begin to echo the movement of the river and its calming effect. Their colours of turquoise, yellow, grey and deep blue/green,mirror its mood and motion. The glazes are made in the studio with the inside of each piece glazed, while the outside of the surface is unglazed.